Pop-Culturalist.com

Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson is an up-and-coming actress who is quickly making a name for herself in the industry. From projects like On My Block to Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, Troy’s list of credits is impressive to say the least.

This October, she joins the cast of ABC’s Big Sky.

Pop Culturalist spoke with Troy about her career, discovering her voice as an advocate, Big Sky, and what audiences should know about her character.

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Troy: When I was a kid, I spent a few summers at a theater camp in California. Ever since then, I’ve been in love with acting.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Troy: My mom and dad are huge influences. They’ve always inspired me to follow and give my all to whatever feels most fulfilling in life. They also inspire me to work hard and stay humble and grounded, which I feel is incredibly important. I love and appreciate them so much.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a moment that stands out?
Troy: The first actual acting job I ever had was in a play at this theater in LA. I just remember being beyond excited about that. It felt especially cool because I’d discovered my love for acting through theater. For my first job to be in theater, that just felt really special.

PC: You’ve used your platform to bring awareness to issues and causes that you’re incredibly passionate about. How did you discover your voice as an advocate?
Troy: I think when you’re someone who identifies with a marginalized group you’re sort of pushed to learn how to advocate for yourself, your community, and other marginalized groups pretty early on—because you have to. You have to learn how to stand up for yourself and for others. But I also think there are people who will try to keep you quiet. I don’t think it was until I joined the Black collegians program at one of my schools and got to spend more time with my community and with a diverse group of advocates that I started to gain the confidence to use my voice. I’m honestly still working on building that confidence and learning how to communicate in a way that is as wise and effective as I can be. But the people within the communities I identify with—and just people in general who prioritize compassion and advocate for equality—are always inspiring me.

PC: You’re starring in Season 2 of Big Sky. What should audiences know about Harper?
Troy: Harper is a part of a young group of friends who are going to be introduced this season. I’ve loved being able to play her. She’s really confident, daring, and clever. I also think she and some of her friends are a bit opportunistic, which makes for some really interesting and intense situations.

PC: What can you tease about her arc in Season 2? How did you prepare to tackle that journey?
Troy: Harper starts off just being a normal teenager focused on having fun with her friends and working at her dad’s struggling local diner. But after she and her friends stumble across a crime scene where they discover bags full of drugs and money, their relationships with one another are of course tested.

I think the most important thing for me when preparing to play Harper and tackle her journey was focusing on her backstory/given circumstances and focusing on making her relationships to everyone in the show (especially within her friend group) as specific as possible. Everything that Harper does, even the more morally questionable things, I truly don’t believe is ever for selfish reasons. I think every time she makes a decision she has not only her own best interest in mind, but her loved ones’ best interests in mind as well. I think by making her backstory/given circumstances specific and by allowing all of her objectives to be rooted in her relationships helps me as an actor to understand and justify her intentions and actions.

PC: If you had to describe Season 2 in one sentence, what would it be?
Troy: Be careful who you trust.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Troy: Gossip Girl.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Troy: Twilight.

PC: Favorite book?
Troy: If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Troy: The Scottish play.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Troy: I’m honestly not sure if most people I know would be surprised by this because I never shut up about it but I love Nirvana! [laughs]

PC: Dream role?
Troy: I would love to do something that’s based in a fantasy world or is an adaptation of a fantasy novel.

To keep up with Troy, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Big Sky Season 2 every Thursday at 10/9c on ABC.

Photo Credit: Cameron Malone